Lolita Gallery

Related article: Date: Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:39:52 -0400 From:
bigmohpost.com Subject: 13_April_203913 APRIL 2039 By Morris
HendersonPREFACEIn 2004, astronomers found another asteroid.
Nothing special about that; thousands had already been cataloged.
This one, however, was unusual. As they observed it in order to
project its trajectory they began to worry. It was huge. And it was
on a course that would qualify as an NEO, a Near Earth Object. They
checked, double-checked, and triple-checked their calculations.
Their worst fears were realized. The planetoid's path would pass
perilously close to Earth -- so close, in fact, that it would dip
below the orbiting communications satellites.Tom Harriman was a
teenager in 2005 when he read the news. He had been interested in
astronomy since he was a little boy and was fascinated by the
information on the NASA web site:
==========================================Asteroid to come scarily
close to Earth Will occur on Friday the 13th in April, 2029 NASA
Science News, May 13, 2005
--http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/13may_2004mn4/Friday
the 13th is supposed to be an unlucky day but maybe it's not so
bad. Consider this: On April 13th, -- Friday the 13th -- 2029,
millions of people are going to go outside, look up and marvel at
their good luck. A point of light will be gliding across the sky,
faster than many satellites, brighter than most stars. What's so
lucky about that? Asteroid 2004 MN4 is not hitting Earth.For a
while astronomers thought it might. On Christmas Eve 2004, Paul
Chodas, Steve Chesley, and Don Yeomans at NASA's Near Earth Object
Program office calculated a 1-in-60 chance that 2004 MN4 would
collide with Earth. Impact date: April 13, 2029.The asteroid is
about 320 meters wide. "That's big enough to punch through Earth's
atmosphere," devastating a region the size of, say, Texas if it hit
land, or causing widespread tsunamis if it hit the ocean.Asteroid
2004 MN4 was discovered in June 2004, lost and then discovered
again six months later. With such sparse tracking data it was
difficult to say, precisely, where the asteroid would go. A
collision with Earth was theoretically possible. The odds were
disturbing."Astronomers knew 2004 MN4 would miss Earth when they
found pictures of the asteroid taken, unwittingly, in March 2004,
three months before its official discovery. The extra data ruled
out a collision in 2029. Instead, what we're going to have is an
eye-popping close encounter:Asteroid 2004 MN4 will fly past Earth
only 18,600 miles (30,000 km) above the ground. That is below
geosynchronous satellites that orbit at 22,300 miles (36,000 km).
At closest approach, the asteroid will shine like a 3rd magnitude
star, visible to the unaided eye from Africa, Europe, and Asia --
even through city lights. Close approaches by objects as large as
2004 MN4 are currently Lolita Gallery thought to occur at
1000-year intervals, on average.In January 2004, a team of
astronomers led by Lance Benner of JPL pinged 2004 MN4 using the
giant Arecibo radar in Puerto Rico. (Coincidentally, the Arecibo
dish is about the same size as the asteroid.) Echoes revealed the
asteroid's precise distance and velocity, allowing the calculation
of details of the 2029 flyby. More data are needed to forecast 2004
MN4's motion beyond 2029. The next good opportunities are in 2013
and 2021 when the asteroid will be about 9 million miles (14
million km) from Earth, invisible to the naked eye, but close
enough for radar studies.
==========================================Summer, 2013
------------Nearly everyone now accepted the predicted encounter
with the asteroid but there was no clear consensus about the
danger. The more optimistic estimate, which was still gloomy, was
that several communication satellites, including many used for GPS
navigation, would be pulled out of orbit, disabled, or destroyed.
The pessimists predicted, however, that gravitational forces could
cause dire consequences--massive earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions; huge tidal waves that would obliterate coastal cities;
and, alarmingly, the orbits of the Earth and the Moon would be
altered with unpredictable but surely disastrous effects on
climate, seasons, and the very survival of all life except for
micro-organisms.Tom Harriman, by now a graduate student studying
astrophysics, shared the information with his partner, Rick
Santori. Rick was alarmed but Tom adopted a moderately optimistic
view. There was still time, he reasoned, to deflect the path of the
asteroid and to alter its course enough to avoid any real threat to
Earth. He was concerned, however, that eight years had passed with
insufficient effort to avert a potential tragedy.The scientific
community had sent urgent warnings to NASA, ESA, and the United
Nations, urging immediate planning and funding for a program to
divert the asteroid. The scientists warned that, at a minimum, the
loss of communication satellites would cause world-wide economic
and social disorder. If calculations were wrong and the asteroid
hit Earth, millions of people would die and millions more would
suffer. One alarmist predicted the extinction of nearly all life on
Earth.Politicians and bureaucrats debated, argued, and bickered for
years in spite of compelling evidence and increasingly strident
urgings to take action before it was too late. The political and
scientific debate was a repeat of the indecision and inaction that
had been triggered by the climate warming data earlier in the
century.Scientists could not agree on the safest and most effective
means to disrupt the asteroid's path. There was no scarcity of
competing plans that, unfortunately, prolonged the dithering
debate. Even blasting the asteroid with a nuclear bomb still had
advocates although the idea had been discredited long ago because
it would result in many smaller asteroids that would spread the
destruction over a much wider swath of the planet.After weighing
their options, Tom and Rick made the decision to do whatever they
could to force the adoption of a plan and to lobby for necessary
funding. But what could they do? Tom was only a graduate student
and had neither the credibility nor credentials of an established
scientist. Nor was he politically active so he had no influence on
decision-makers. Rick, with an MBA, was employed in a management-
consulting firm and, like his lover, lacked both influence and
credibility.They wrote letters to the editor. They joined blogs to
advocate for prompt action before it was too late. They organized
rallies to urge national leaders to act. Tom, because of his
training, concentrated on disseminating information about the
projected path of the asteroid and the certainty that it would
barely miss the Earth. Rick, because of his familiarity with
business, spread the word about the chaos that would result from
the loss of instant communication upon which everyone's daily lives
depended.They grew increasingly frustrated with the disappointing
level of public support and angry at the inaction of those who
could prevent the disaster. The inevitable calamity affected their
lives in many ways. Tom could no longer concentrate on his
dissertation and had to apply to the University for an extension of
time. Rick was distracted at work, which displeased his employer
and jeopardized his job. Even their personal lives suffered.
Lovemaking was less frequent and less satisfying because of their
obsession with the 2029 calamity and with constant worrying about
what more they could do. Christmas, 2014 ---------------It had been
ten years to the day since the discovery of 2004 MN4 with no
substantial progress on evading the asteroid's destructive path. In
order to relax, Tom and Rick took time off from their relentless
campaigning. They had agreed to spend the holiday together without
even speaking of the cause to which they had already given so much
time and effort. Instead, they would dedicate themselves to each
other for two whole days, letting nothing interfere. They exchanged
gifts beside a blazing fire in the fireplace after a leisurely meal
and retired early to passionately demonstrate their love for each
other. They slept late, having succumbed to the "arms of
Morphedous" in the early morning hours. They had breakfast in bed
(each other) and didn't go to the kitchen until lunch time. After
lunch and telephone calls to their families who lived hundreds of
miles away, they returned to bed to cuddle the remainder of the
afternoon away.By evening on Christmas day, relaxed and refreshed,
they broke their promise to each other and began to reflect on what
they had accomplished. In six months of blogging and holding
rallies they had energized a large number of people. They were
proud of that but there was so much more that had to be done.
April, 2014 -----------Fifteen more years until 2004 MN4 would
threaten.Tom and Rick's campaign to stir action was almost derailed
when a blogger posted a plea on the Internet that read, in part:
=========================================="...The asteroid's close
fly-by was predicted in the Holy Bible `And the third angel
sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it
were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and
upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called
Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and
many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.'
(Revelation 8:10-11) The star, my brothers and sisters, is coming
as God predicted. But take heart; it is only Lolita Gallery
a warning to REPENT or He will not be so merciful the next time.
... Sinners like Tom Harriman and Rick Santori, who openly violate
God's Word with their homosexual relationship, are the cause of
God's anger. Don't believe those instruments of Satan who lie to us
and claim that the asteroid is nothing more than a natural
phenomenon. It is not. Believe the Word of God as it is written in
the Bible. All true believers must act NOW to convince deviant
homosexuals to repent..." Lolita Gallery
========================================== Many people knew Tom and
Rick shared an apartment but only very close friends knew they were
gay and in a committed relationship. Where, then, did the blogger
get his information? They puzzled over it for a short time but
agreed that publication of their partnership was no big deal.What
was a major concern, however, is that the blog posting precipitated
a deluge of phone calls to Tom and Rick. Most callers were
well-intentioned and polite in their urging to abandon the
homosexual relationship but a few deranged extremists threatened to
personally punish them for their sin, evidently thinking that by so
doing they would pacify an angry god. Due to the venomous threats,
the two young men had reason to fear for their safety--and, for
that matter, their lives--but, after prolonged and intense
discussion, they reaffirmed their resolve to continue their
campaign.When reporters and newscasters began contacting them for a
reaction, they wisely admitted, "Yes, we're gay. So what? Is that
really important? No! What's important is that the world leaders
must be courageous enough to act--NOW--to plan and carry out a
mission to divert the rogue fragment of space-flotsam that will,
unless something is done, create havoc in the world." By that kind
of response, they refocused attention on what had become a dominant
goal in their lives. More significantly, they were asked to appear
on several local and national news programs to talk about the
danger and what must be done. The blogger had unwittingly given
them and their cause substantial media coverage. November, 2014
--------------The public responded to the awareness of the
asteroid's arrival and the damage it might cause in a variety of
ways. There was an uptick in the crime rate, particularly
robberies. Pundits explained this by theorizing that, if the end of
the world as we know it was imminent, why not grab what you could
and enjoy your remaining days. There was also a growing tide of
religious fervor as people sought, belatedly, to earn salvation in
the afterlife.Tom and Rick bemoaned both reactions, feeling that
the opportunistic criminals were immoral and the newly zealous
religious were hypocritical. They maintained their confidence that
the asteroid could be redirected enough to avoid disrupting the
communication satellites that were essential to commerce, national
security, and social order. If only the world powers would devote
the resources to an effective plan.The midterm elections in the
United States saw the ouster from Congress of several incumbents
who had waffled on the need for world-wide collaboration to avert a
global tragedy. Instead, most of the politicians who consistently
and vigorously called for action were elected. But they wouldn't
take office until January. That meant two more months of delay. It
was less than 15 years before the asteroid's encounter with Earth.
Although that seemed to be plenty of time, it would have to become
an urgent priority no later than 2015.Rick and Tom were exhausted
from their tireless campaigning and decided for their own mental
health to take a week's vacation on the Caribbean island of Aruba.
It was, as they say, just what the doctor ordered. They swam,
surfed, and snorkeled. But when they tired of activities they
lounged on the beach admiring the muscular, firm, nearly naked male
bodies of both residents and tourists who seemed to display their
bodies with pride. Had they not been totally committed to each
other, they would surely have identified a few targets of their
lust. Instead, they spent many satisfying and contended hours in
bed renewing and reaffirming their love for each other. By mutual
agreement, they rarely spoke of their efforts to spur political
action. February, 2015 --------------It was becoming alarmingly
clear that the new congress in the United States was falling into
the trap that had polarized and virtually paralyzed government
since early in the century. Members of congress with long tenure
became, if anything, more strident. Newly elected members carried
on the tradition of countless politicians before them by promising
one thing before the election but ignoring their promises after
being elected.Rick and Tom -- along with many others around the
world -- were growing despondent over the failure of leadership.
But then something remarkable happened.China, which had overtaken
Japan as the #2 economic powerhouse in late 2010, announced a
partnership with the European Union and ESA, the European Space
Agency. In retrospect, it should not Lolita Gallery have been
surprising. One reason was that astronomers had long predicted that
the asteroid's passing would be visible from Europe, Asia, and
Africa. It was those parts of the world, therefore, that were most
at risk from any damage caused. Another reason, as Rick pointed out
to Tom, was that China had been investing billions in the economic
development of several African countries for decades. Diverting the
asteroid was essential to protect those investments.China would
provide the majority of the substantial funding necessary. ESA
would provide the technical expertise. Its Ariane V rocket was the
largest and, since 2002, one of the most reliable space vehicles.
The Ariane V would be modified for its special mission. It would be
launched from ESA's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana in 2028 and
require six month to travel to the asteroid in time to deflect its
orbit. A second Ariane V would be readied in case of unlikely
problems with the first launch.Rick and Tom were elated by the
news. The United Lolita Gallery States and its Western
Hemisphere neighbors had been consumed with divisive bickering and,
as most of the scientific community charged, negligent in their
duty to protect citizens. But the new, international partnership
between Europe and China seemed to be the last, best, and only
hope.Rick poured all his effort into finishing his dissertation in
time to receive his PhD the following June. He was frequently
exhausted at bedtime and his love life was sporadic at best but Tom
was very understanding because they had agreed on a long-term goal.
With a Doctorate in Astrophysics, Rick would likely be successful
in securing a job with the ESA Launchers Directorate, based in
Paris. They would then relocate to France where Tom would seek
employment in the Paris office of an American consulting firm.
Christmas, 2024 ---------------Two decades had passed since the
fateful discovery of 2004 MN4. The asteroid had been under constant
surveillance and its exact trajectory calculated. It would pass by
Earth Lolita Gallery at an altitude of from 18,490 to 18,505
miles above the Earth. The precise time of its passing was known.
It would streak across the sky at 35,500 miles per hour making it
visible from Earth only briefly. But, if nothing were done to
deflect it, those few moments would surely cripple much of the
world's communications and thereby wreck havoc on all kinds of
economic, political, and social systems.Rick and Tom celebrated
Christmas as they had since they first met -- with a special
dinner, a bottle of fine wine (thankfully plentiful in Paris),
exchanging gifts, and spending time together, much of it in
bed.They had much to celebrate that year. Tom had been put in
charge of the team of technicians that would travel to French
Guiana to assist with the launch while Rick had been promoted to
Branch Manager in the Paris office of an international consulting
firm. Both men's careers were marked with success and the respect
of their peers. They had recently celebrated the 25th anniversary
of their first night together and were looking forward to another
25 years of companionship. But they faced a serious problem.Rick
had been asked to become the Associate Director of European
Operations for his firm, a promotion that would require his
relocation to London. Tom was committed to stay in Paris except for
a few months in French Guiana before and after the launch of
Intercepteur, the name given to the modified Ariane V rocket that
would carry a payload to the threatening asteroid.Tom encouraged
Rick to accept the promotion, arguing that it would be foolish to
turn it down. They could still visit each other in Paris or London
frequently and, after the 2004 MN4 project was over in only five
years, he could move to London to live with Tom. Tom, however,
countered that his love for Rick was far more important than a job,
however prestigious, and he would be happier to remain in Paris
with the most important person in his life.The plan was to place a
relatively small rocket engine (dubbed Remorqueur -- tugboat) on
the asteroid, which, when fired with minimal thrust and only
briefly, would push the huge chuck of rock away from its dangerous
rendezvous with Earth. There were, of course, many things that
could go wrong. The Intercepteur might fail at launching or its
guidance system might not properly receive and execute navigational
transmissions from Earth. That wasn't the scariest part. Suppose
Remorqueur didn't land on the surface of the asteroid in the right
orientation and therefore pushed the asteroid in the wrong
direction. Suppose it didn't push the entire asteroid but, instead,
broke it into pieces; that would change a serious catastrophe into
a much more severe one by raining pieces unpredictably across a
wide expanse of Earth.Many scientists had advocated "parking"
Intercepteur near the asteroid so that the gravity of its mass
would gradually pull the asteroid out of its near-collision course.
They were appalled at the decision to use Remorqueur, protested
vigorously, and predicted a failure of disastrous proportions.
June, 2028 ----------Tom flew to French Guiana to work on the final
preparation for launch. Intercepteur, was scheduled to blast off in
early August for a rendezvous with 2004 MN4 in December -- allowing
four months to track the asteroid's altered trajectory. Before
leaving, however, he and Rick spent two days -- and two nights! --
together. They promised to stay in touch over Skype as often as
they could. Tom would take a Virgin Atlantic suborbital flight to
Atlanta and transfer to a NASA jet for the remainder of the trip.
At the boarding gate of the spaceport near Paris, both men
struggled to keep back their tears. It would be the first time they
had been separated for more than a day or two since they first
shared a bed so long ago.Tom's quarters in Kourou was within easy
walking distance to the offices and labs at the spaceport. They
were spartan but comfortable. The only difference from an economy
motel room was that it had no private bathroom; showering and
bodily functions took place in a communal bathroom.Before
unpacking, Tom used the secure videoconferencing system (All
quarters had private access to the system.) to call Rick who
received the call on Skype and was relieved that the trip had been
uneventful. They spoke for 20 minutes, mostly about the launching
complex and what it was like in French Guiana. They concluded the
call by expressing their love for one another and promising to stay
in touch.Tom worked ten or more hours every day but managed, at
least on most days, to call his lover when, adjusting for time
differences, he knew Rick would be at home and not asleep. He
explained the work he was doing but not all of it; some was
classified and couldn't be discussed even on a secure
connection.Two members of Tom's team Lolita
Gallery had accompanied him to prepare for the launch.
Both knew that he was gay but it had never been an issue when they
worked together in Paris. A problem arose, however, three days
after his arrival. Tom was showering when another resident, a
technician from another department, came into the shower room,
paused, and walked to a shower head as far away as possible from
Tom. Tom greeted him but got no response so he resumed his
shower.As the stranger was leaving the shower room, he spoke. He
chastised Tom vigorously for claiming that the asteroid was a
natural phenomenon and cursed him self-righteously for being a
filthy, queer sinner.Tom ignored the epithets, having learned that
it's futile to convince a religious bigot that homosexuality is not
a sin. He did, however, try to reason with the technician about the
workings of the cosmos. He pointed out the irony of the
technician's position: "If it's an act of God, why are you here
interfering with God's plan?"The technician flew into a rage and
hissed, "It's disgusting fags like you that have caused the
problem! May you burn in the eternal fires of Hell!"Later that day,
Tom was summoned to the office of the Launch Director. Curious
about the reason for the meeting, Tom put his work aside and walked
to the headquarters building. "Tom Harriman to see Dr. Swartz," he
said to the guard at the entrance.The unsmiling guard checked the
log on his computer, looked up, pointed to the elevator, and almost
growled, "Second floor. End of the hall."Tom knocked on the door of
the Director's office, heard a muffled "Enter!" through the thick
wooden door, and walked into a large, elegantly furnished office.
The Director was seated behind a enormous desk yet his massive
frame seemed to loom ominously above it. He was flipping through
papers in a thick file folder and didn't acknowledge the presence
of his visitor. After several minutes, Tom was irritated at being
ignored but increasingly curious about the reason for the urgent
summons. Finally, he asked, "You wanted to see me, sir?"The
Director looked up over his half-rim reading glasses and said
harshly, "Indeed I did. Don't just stand there. Sit down." His
brusque tone worried Tom but he obeyed what was less of an
invitation than a command and sat in a chair across the desk from
the Director who continued scanning the documents in the file
folder.Finally, the Director took off his glasses and looked
(glared?) at Tom. "Tom Harriman," he said. "Excellent work record.
Superior performance ratings. Rapid rise to Team Leader. Exemplary
leadership of your team. Good prospects for future advancement.
Shame to throw it away with a stupid mistake."Tom was stunned and
perplexed at the last, terse comment. What the hell did it mean?
"Sir?" he asked."You're gay. Right?""That's true, sir.""Been living
with ... what's his name ... Ah ... Rick Santori?""Yes,
sir.""Monogamous?""Absolutely. I never have nor never will cheat on
my partner. Nor will he on me.""Been here how long?""Two weeks,"
Tom replied, becoming anxious about the Director's stern manner and
the direction of his questions."Two weeks," the Director mused.
"Miss your lover?""Of course. But we Lolita Gallery realize
it's temporary and, I must add, we both agree that it's essential
to the success of Intercepteur.There was an awkward pause before
the Director said, "Two weeks. Long time to be without ... how
shall I put this? ... companionship."What the hell was going on,
Tom wondered. Was the Director coming on to him? Not likely. So
what was it? Patience at an end, Tom asked, "With respect, sir, why
are you inquiring about my personal life.""It's a mystery. You
claim to be monogamous but it's been reported that you
propositioned another worker in the shower this morning. What you
do in you personal life is not my concern. What you do here with
other employees is. I cannot allow anything to jeopardize the
success of the program. You DO understand that, don't you?""I
understand your concern about the mission, sir, and I share your
concern. What I don't Lolita Gallery understand is
the completely false report of my behavior. I would never
jeopardize the program and I would most certainly not betray my
partner. Whatever you heard is a total fabrication.""Am I supposed
to believe you over your accuser? After all, why would someone make
up such a bizarre story? And wouldn't you be motivated to deny your
inexcusable behavior?""I do deny it. Because it never happened. I'm
left to wonder about the motivation of the accuser. If you'll
permit me, sir, I'd like to offer a theory as to why I'm being
slandered.""I'm listening," the Director said impatiently.Tom
related the incident in the shower and concluded by saying, "It's
conceivable that the individual found out my sexual orientation.
His religious fervor and belief in his church's asinine claim that
the asteroid is a warning from God could be his motive to punish
me. If he sincerely felt I had contributed to the reason for the
impending disaster, he may very well concoct a story that would
subject me to disciplinary action.""Hmmm," the Director said
enigmatically and reached for another file folder. He scanned its
contents while Tom waited, nervously wondering whether he had erred
in suggesting his theory to the Director.After a few minutes, the
Director said, "Based on the evidence I have," (tapping the second
file folder) "and upon what you have told me, I must admit that
your theory is plausible. Now ... I'm sure you have work to attend
to. But let this conversation be a warning to keep your ... ah ...
urges ... in check. That'll be all."Tom recognized the polite
dismissal. He stood to leave but, on impulse, said, "Thank you,
sir, for your understanding. And you'll never have a reason ... at
least not a valid reason ... for doubting my dedication to my job
or my fidelity to my partner.Tom was troubled for the rest of the
day by the cruel rumor about him and by the Director's stern,
unsmiling demeanor. Had the matter really been laid to rest?
Whether it had or hadn't, he resolved to be constantly on guard.
For the remainder of his assignment, he made it a point to avoid
being alone with his accuser. Someone else would have to be present
as a potential witness that no unacceptable behavior occurred.Tom
returned home to Paris two weeks after the launch of Intercepteur.
He convinced Rick to accept the promotion at the management
consulting firm. They relocated to London where Tom took a job
teaching at a University. January 2, 2029 ---------------The launch
of Intercepteur had been flawless. It was "parked" five kilometers
from the asteroid. Remorqueur had been deployed successfully and
rested, according to telemetry, and confirmed by video image, in a
perfect orientation.The command to fire Remorqueur's rocket engine
was sent to Intercepteur that would relay the command to the small
robotic lander on the asteroid's surface. The command was
acknowledged but then all communication ceased. The large video
monitor in mission control that had shown the perfectly positioned
missile on the surface of the threatening planetoid was now filled
with electrostatic snow. Computer screens that had displayed data
and graphs of telemetry were now dark.The atmosphere in mission
control turned to controlled panic.Within minutes after losing the
communication link the Mission Commander evoked Emergency Protocol
8B. He ordered a lock down of the control room and issued an
mandatory gag order. No one could leave the control room or contact
anyone outside the room until the problem was identified. He
rapidly barked orders to key personnel as specified in the Protocol
but his commands were laced with profanities that didn't appear in
the checklist he held in his hand.Television, radio, and Internet
media reporters were waiting in an auditorium in another building
for the announcement that Remorqueur's rocket engine had fired
successfully. They were first puzzled and then worried when the
audio and video feed to the auditorium abruptly ceased. Speculation
among the reporters mounted to an ominous but inevitable
conclusion: the multi-billion dollar effort was a failure. They
knew there was no time to launch the backup Ariane V rocket. By the
time it was prepared, launched, and traveled to intercept the
menacing planetoid 2004 MN4, it would be too late to deflect its
trajectory. Would the communication satellites so essential to
every person on the planet be rendered useless? Was the Earth
doomed to political, economic, and social chaos?January, 2029
-------------The Mission Commander dispatched the Media Liaison
Officer to address the reporters assembled in the auditorium. The
message to be given was dictated by the Emergency Protocol:
"There's been a glitch in the communication channels. It may be a
minor problem. We're working to identify and resolve the problem.
We'll keep you informed." There was, of course, a barrage of
questions and the reporters grew impatient with hearing variations
of the same answer: "We don't know yet. We'll release information
when we have it." The reporters became increasingly assertive and
the assembly disintegrated into a loud chorus of confrontational
questions. The Media Liaison Officer, however, kept his composure
until he could no longer. He terminated the raucous session by
saying, "Rest assured; we will give you more information as it
becomes available." He walked out of the auditorium, leaving the
reporters with very little to report to their world-wide audience.
The reporters who were on live television and radio faced the
perplexing challenge of filling the time with... With what?Frantic
efforts to restore communication failed. Finally, a programmer
discovered the problem. The coded signal sent by Intercepteur to
initiate firing of Remorqueur's rocket engine was corrupted; two
digits had been transposed. There would be no nudging of the huge,
rocky asteroid out of its menacing transit toward Earth.
Investigation revealed that the coded signal was correct during the
final test just two days before launch, leading to one of two
conclusions: a one-in-a-million chance that something, perhaps a
leak of solar radiation, had affected the Ariane's computer memory
or, even more unlikely, it had been sabotaged by someone after the
Lolita Gallery final testing. Both possibilities had to be
investigated.During a meticulous scrutiny of the testing records, a
programmer discovered an astonishing anomaly. The final computer
command--following the one that should have instructed Remorqueur's
rocket to ignite-- initiated a shutdown of Intercepteur's computer.
The unthinkable conclusion was now obvious: sabotage!Ground
controllers tried tirelessly to correct the problem but every
effort to reboot Ariane's computer fell short and intensified the
frustration and anxiety throughout the spaceport complex.It
required only a few hours to identify five people who had both the
expertise and access to change the programming of the Ariane's
computer. Four were immediately and extensively interrogated but
cleared of suspicion. The fifth, Billy Westbrook, an American
originally from rural Alabama, had suddenly left the launch
facility less than a week ago, citing a family health emergency.
Contacting his family yielded responses of "No, we haven't seen
him" and "No, there's no family emergency."The FBI and Interpol
were notified. A multi-nation search was initiated with an
unprecedented number of law enforcement personnel assigned to the
task of locating the missing technician.Meanwhile, the Mission
Commander faced the unpleasant task of releasing the horrific news.
He called a press conference for eight A.M. the following morning.
By seven, the auditorium was packed and worried people around the
world were gathered around their televisions or Lolita
Gallery radios.At exactly eight o'clock, the Mission
Commander strode to the podium and read a prepared statement.
"Thank you for coming and thank you for your patience. I will let
you know everything that we know. Therefore, there will be no need
for questions following my statement. One. The launch and transit
of the Ariane V was flawless. Two. Deployment of Remorqueur was
also flawless and, as you saw on video previously released, it was
in a perfect position to fire its rocket engine and push the
asteroid away from its orbit toward Earth. Every member of the
mission should be commended for their exceptional performance.
Three. This you also know. There was an interruption of
communication immediately following the command to fire the rocket
parked on the asteroid's surface. Four. Through painstaking and
exhaustive research, we have identified the cause of the error. The
command relayed to Remorqueur was incorrect, meaning that its
rocket did not ignite. The asteroid's trajectory is unchanged. It
will NOT collide with Earth but will, instead, pass at an altitude
of approximately 30,000 kilometers. Lolita Gallery It will require
further radar and optical observation to more precisely determine
its specific altitude and time of transit. We know the date--13
April in the late afternoon--but cannot be more specific than that.
At this point, pending further measurements of the asteroid's path,
we only know that it will appear above Europe and Africa as it
passes overhead. Five. The operators of communication satellites
have been notified to implement their contingency plans that they
put in place some time ago. We cannot say at this point which
satellitesIF ANYwill be affected. Six. And this is the most
troubling news. We have convincing evidence that the communication
failure was the result of sabotage. Someone deliberately corrupted
the command and control programming of Intercepteur. With the help
of law- enforcement agencies across the globe, we are currently
seeking the whereabouts of one Billy Westbrook. Let me be clear. He
is not now a suspect; he is a person of interest. But he
unexpectedly left the launching complex a few days ago and cannot
be found. Photos and biographical information on Mr. Westbrook will
be distributed at the end of this press conference. You can be of
immeasurable help in publicizing that information to help us locate
and interview him. In conclusion. You now have all the information
we have. We will continue to keep you informed. Good day."The
Mission Director gathered his script and strode toward the exit
door, ignoring a barrage of shouted questions from the
reporters.Tom and Rick watched the live coverage of the press
conference from their flat in London. They listened intently to the
Mission Director's statement and were shocked by the revelation
that the program had been sabotaged. Following the conclusion of
the televised briefing, Billy Westbrook's photo appeared on the
screen."Holy shit!" Tom exclaimed. "That's the religious nut that
chewed me out for being gay and claimed that I propositioned
him.""You should tell ESA about that," Rick suggested. "It may have
a bearing on their hunt for him.""They already know, Rick. I told
the Launch Director all about it. Moreover, he seemed to have quite
a dossier on the idiot's background that included his religious
activism.""Right. I forgot about your interrogation. Do you think
this Billy guy planted the computer code?""I can't be sure," Tom
said. "But it's likely. He's such a religious nut case that he may
have felt he was doing God's work ... allowing the asteroid to warn
the world about perverse homosexuality.""That's totally
irrational," Rick said."It is," Tom agreed. He thought for a
moment, and continued, "Do you suppose I made matters worse? I
asked him why he was working on a program that would interfere with
God's plan. Maybe I planted a seed in his deranged mind. Maybe he
decided then to make sure the mission didn't succeed. SHIT! I'm
partly to blame!""No, Tom. All you did was point out his twisted
logic. You're not responsible for his screwed up mind.""Thanks,
love, for the effort but I can't help wondering whether my question
pushed him over the edge and lead him to do it." February-March,
2029 --------------------Frequent briefings from Mission Control
were accurate and as complete as possible but precipitated pages of
speculation on the Internet and in the few print publications that
still existed. The television networks filled hour upon hour with
more speculation. Not surprisingly, the alarmists dominated the
public discussion because the media knew that would draw a bigger
audience. Anxiety grew toward panic in all but the most isolated
parts of the world. Banks faced a tsunami of withdrawals as
confidence in the global financial system deteriorated. Shortages
of food and clothing increased as hoarders stocked up in
anticipation of a disruption of manufacturing, processing, and
distribution of goods. There was insatiable demand for guns as
people began to fear their possessions and even their food would be
stolen if not defended by lethal force. Construction people who
could build secure shelters reminiscent of the bomb shelters of the
1950's couldn't keep up with the demand. Concern quickly became
debilitating anxiety and depression, especially throughout Europe
and Asia. Mass hysteria was a possibility.Governments and the
scientific community tried in vain to quell the panic. Rational
commentators on television and radio as well as reasonable bloggers
on the Internet were routinely ignored ... or worse, derided as
blind Pollyannas.There was no lack of criticism for ESA, some of
which was vicious in the extreme and included death threats for
"the incompetents who put the world in peril." The mob psychology
did not allow for the reality that a lone, deranged individual was
to blame and not ESA officials.Gay people suffered a major setback
in their efforts to gain equality. Homosexuality had become far
more accepted than it had just two decades before. Same sex
marriage had been recognized by many governments and was tolerated
by most people. But not all. Religious zealots were a small but
very loud minority who continued to claim that it was the cause of
God's wrath and humanity would be punished for allowing it to
exist.Tom and Rick, because of their early activism in raising
awareness of the asteroid's threat, were singled out for
persecution by what they called the lunatic fringe. They received
frequent phone calls and email urging them to repent. They could
ignore them but they couldn't disregard the periodic threats of
violent punishment up to and including death. They had to be very
watchful when out in public. They had to be very careful when they
received suspicious mail. It was far from paranoia but their
anxiety was constant. Except when they were in their flat. They
felt safe there. That was a time to relax, to enjoy their
ever-deepening love for each other, and to demonstrate that love in
highly passionate and erotic ways.Meanwhile, the search for Billy
Westbrook continued. Several men, suspected of being the villainous
saboteur, were murdered by self- appointed vigilantes. But there
was no progress in locating the suspected saboteur in spite of
thousands of tips and alleged sightings. Lolita
Gallery Until one afternoon.Tom was lecturing to his class
at the university. At the end of the class period, his students
left while he gathered up his notes. A bearded man wearing
ill-fitting, wrinkled clothes and sunglasses entered the room. Tom
looked up, wondering who the stranger was. "Tom Harriman?" the
disheveled man asked."Yes," Tom replied. "Can I help you?""NO!" the
man said emphatically. "I don't need and won't accept help from a
queer fag who rejects the Word of the Almighty. I've come as a
servant of God to deliver you to the eternal fires of Hell."Tom
suddenly recognized the voice and the face that was half-hidden by
a thick beard. "Billy?"Billy Westbrook drew a pistol out from under
his jacket and aimed it at Tom. "But I'm a compassionate man," he
said. "I'll give you one last chance to renounce your filthy past
and repent of your sins."Tom's mind raced, frantically searching
for a way to calm the psychotic young man. His instincts cried out
to run. Where? That would be useless; there were less than ten
meters between him and a lethal weapon in the hand of a deranged
fanatic who stood in the only doorway of the classroom."Wait," Tom
said as calmly as he could. "Kill me and you'll go to Hell also. Is
that what you want?"Billy did not respond. He raised the gun to
take aim at his target.Two shots rang out, echoing loudly
throughout the room. Tom fell to the floor behind the podium.What
seemed like an eternity passed before Tom realized his only pain
was in his right arm but that was caused by having fallen on it. It
was pinned in an awkward position against the hard floor. Then he
heard a commotion in the room. What was it? He dared to peek around
the base of the podium, hoping that the sounds he heard was Billy
Westbrook running away. Instead, he saw two men with guns drawn
crouching over a limp figure on the floor."He's still alive," said
one. "Call an ambulance.""No," said the other. "Let the bastard
die.""Four oh one to base," the first said into his radio. "We got
him. He needs an ambulance. Second floor. Northwest corner."The
radio crackled in reply, "And the target?"The first man called out
to the front of the room, "You all right, Dr. Harriman?""I'm okay,"
Tom said as he stood for a better view of the scene in the doorway.
"A little shaken but I'm fine."While waiting for the ambulance,
Lolita Gallery Tom learned that both he and Rick he had been
discretely watched from dawn to dusk by Scotland Yard for ten days
following an anonymous tip.Billy Westin was whisked away in a
screaming ambulance but not before Tom noticed Billy's bloody right
hand and left knee. The first shot, he was told, passed through the
assailant's hand, knocking the pistol several meters away. The
second shot penetrated his knee, causing him to crumple to the
floor. With such marksmanship, Tom would never tell anyone, not
even Rick, about the second man's comment to "let him die."After
recovering from his wounds, Billy Westin would be committed to a
high security psychiatric hospital. April 13, 2029
--------------The dreaded day arrived with half the world's
population waiting for 2004 MN4 to streak overhead. Virtually every
store, every financial institution, every manufacturing plant, and
most governmental agencies were closed. Most flights that were
scheduled during the window of time the asteroid was due had been
cancelled. Both vehicular and pedestrian traffic was light to
absent in major cities. Only essential personnel in law
enforcement, health care, and other vital services were required to
be on duty. The military of most western hemisphere countries and
many in Asia were on full alert in preparedness for civil unrest.
All religious faiths and creeds were holding prayer vigils.The
transit past Earth was brief but spectacular.It might have been
called a non-event except that an undetermined number of military
satellites in low orbit suddenly fell silent. The armed forces of
every nation rigorously maintained a cloak of secrecy to conceal
what they had and not reveal what they might have lost.The
electronic media trumpeted the good fortune of averting disaster
but, by innuendo, criticized those who had warned of a major
calamity.The Earth's gravity had bent the trajectory of 2004 MN4,
which left astronomers in a temporary quandary as to its new
orbital path around the sun. It was no comfort to anyone that the
scientists could not predict when or if the asteroid would return.
Spring, 2033 ------------It had been four years since the close
encounter with asteroid 2004 MN4. Memories of the close encounter
were just beginning to fade when a German astronomer sighted it
again. He made the discovery while using a space- based array of
synchronized telescopes that, together, were far more powerful than
any other. He knew, therefore, that no one else would be able to
see the intruder for quite some time. Over a three week period, he
gathered enough data to give a one in ten chance that on the next
appearance of the asteroid it would very likely crash into the
Earth. He remembered the chaos that met the news of the planetoid's
first fly-by. He notified the Executive Committee of the
International Astronomical Union that acted promptly to alert the
Directors of NASA and ESA, the President of the United States, the
Prime Minister of the United European Nations, and the recently
elected President of China. In their top secret briefings (a
written or emailed report was thought to be too vulnerable to
leaks), they urged clandestine preparations should subsequent data
narrow the odds of a collision. The utmost care should be taken,
they emphasized, to plan how and when to inform the public lest
there be a repeat of the panic and chaos of 2029. Furthermore,
careful thought Lolita Gallery must be given to how best to
destroy or divert the asteroid. Any preventative effort must not
risk the failure of the Intercepteur program and it must restore
the world's confidence in success.Tom was one of the
Astrophysicists who was aware of the new prediction but had agreed
to tell no one (not even Rick whom he had every reason to trust
with the secret) until more precise information was available.
Rick, however, knew that something serious was bothering his
partner. The clues were obvious. Tom would excuse himself to take a
phone call only to return nervous and morose. He was spending more
and more time on campus. Many of his emails were encrypted.One
night after prolonged lovemaking, Rick said, "Something is
bothering you, love. And that worries me. The secretive phone
calls. The encrypted email. Have you found somebody else?""Good god
NO! I have all I want and more with you.""Then what is it, Tom?
We've always been honest and open with each other. Why the secrecy
now?"Tom spent a few moments weighing his loyalties. Should he keep
his vow of secrecy or should he trust and honor the man he loved?
Should he tell his life partner about the return of the asteroid or
not? "I know I've been distracted," he began. "And rude with those
phone calls. But the reason has nothing to do with my devotion to
you or to our relationship. I can only ask that you trust me. When
the time is right, I can explain. Until then, please be patient.
And please believe that I love you."They cuddled affectionately and
quietly for several minutes before Rick asked, "It's coming back,
isn't it?""What?" Tom replied. "What are you talking about?""The
asteroid. It's coming back, isn't it?" They gazed at each other
only momentarily but Rick knew his partner well enough to read his
expression. "When, Tom?""Early 2039," Tom said reluctantly. "But we
don't know enough to say how close it will come to hitting us.""Six
years from now," Rick mused and then added, "When will we
know?"Tom, having divulged the secret, saw no point in holding
anything back. "In a few months we'll have enough data to pin it
down. Right now, all we know is that there's a ten percent
probability of a direct
hit.""Déj� vous all over
again," Rick sighed. "Can it be stopped?""Probably. Billy Westbrock
is locked up but there are still nut cases out there. The
technology is much better; that's good. I think the political will
is more certain. In short, I'm optimistic. But I've broken a
promise to keep a secret. Now, I have to ask you to keep it a
secret. Plans are already being made to inform the public ... and
to mount a more fail-safe effort to divert the asteroid if that
becomes necessary." September, 2033 ---------------The Select
Committee of the International Astronomical Union (including Tom
Harriman), delivered a confidential report to the heads of state of
the United States, the United European Nations, and China. It was
brief, frightening, but completely accurate:
==========================================CONFIDENTIAL
03.09.2033EARTH AT RISK What Must Be Done Report of the IAU1.0
AbstractAsteroid 2004 MN4 is potentially on a collision course with
Earth. Exact measurements of the planetoid's orbit lead to the
following conclusion. There is a better than 50/50 chance that it
will collide with Earth on 13 April 2039. If it does, the
consequences will be catastrophic.On impact: (1) An electromagnetic
pulse will wipe out electronic devices across at least half the
globe and most if not all satellites. (2) A cloud of dust, debris,
and intensely hot ash will spread at supersonic speed. The debris
will be more than 3,000 degrees Celsius as it falls to Earth within
a radius of up to 1,000 kilometers, incinerating everything. (3)
Obviously, evacuation will be impossible. (4) If the impact is in
the ocean, it will create a tsunami 500 meters high at the impact
point. It will spread across the planet rapidly and measure ten
meters on shore lines across the ocean.Following impact: (1)
Noxious clouds will cover the entire planet (from flaming forests
and cities) and block out the sun for months, possibly years. (2)
All necessities of life will be scarce or absent. Open water will
be contaminated. Crops will be destroyed or in critically short
supply. The atmosphere will contain gasses and particulate matter
that will sicken and kill humanity. (3) Only those underground will
survive and only for a short time. (4) The only life forms to
survive will be subterranean and sub-oceanic organisms.None of this
need happen.Technological advances have made possible the
successful destruction or diversion of the asteroid.But planning
must begin NOW.We stand ready to assist you in preventing the
extinction of humanity.
==========================================The world leaders, with
the aid of their most trusted advisors and staff, selected members
of a secret Lolita Gallery global task force to
develop strategies and tactics for informing the Earth's population
of 8.3 billion people. Psychologists, sociologists, and media
experts dominated the 15-member task force. Concurrently, a team of
20 scientists from relevant disciplines were recruited to create a
plan for deflecting the threatening planetoid. Individuals had to
be vetted for their expertise and availability. Each had to be
given security clearance. All of this took time, almost three
months. The most difficult challenge was to fabricate cover stories
to explain why these eminent people would interrupt their
illustrious careers and effectively disappear from public view as
they worked full time on the urgent assignment.Tom was one of two
Astrophysicists on the scientific team. Only Rick knew the real
reason for his partner's leave of absence from the University but
he wisely refrained from asking his lover any questions. Nor did
Tom volunteer any information. The vacuum of information created a
tension that affected their relationship. Rick was more than
curious about what the team of scientists were discussing. Tom felt
guilty about not being able to tell his partner what was going on.
Three things sustained their relationship: periodic assurances from
Tom that he could disclose details later, affirmation of mutual
trust, and their lovemaking during which there were no concerns
except pleasing one another. January, 2034 -------------The
recommendations from both task forces were completed and delivered
to the three world leaders by the demanding deadline.The scientific
team suggested an enhanced version of the Intercepteur plan. First,
not one but two spacecraft would be launched to rendezvous with the
incoming planetoid; malfunction of either would be doubtful but if
one were to fail, the other would be in position to succeed. The
probability of both Lolita
Gallery failing would be vanishingly small. Second, the
screening of those working on the project would be rigorous to
eliminate the possibility of another Billy Westbrook sabotaging the
mission. Third, as a further guard against human error or mischief,
the launch of one rocket would be managed by ESA and the other
almost independently by NASA. The team expressed confidence that
the asteroid could be redirected into an orbit that would not
threaten Earth for several centuries.The public information team's
report was surprisingly detailed and included nominations of key
individuals to oversee the implementation. Prominent and respected
authorities from government, scientists, and leaders of major
religions would endorse the plan and continue to speak out to build
the public's confidence and, when necessary, calm its fears.The
heads of state of the United States, the United European Nations,
and China personally met by secure videophone link with their
counterparts in major countries around the Lolita
Gallery world to explain the danger and the plans to avoid
disaster.On January 20, citizens of most countries around the world
watched a televised address from their nation's top leader, each
broadcast timed to be as nearly simultaneous as possible. While
there was no prescribed wording of the announcement, they all
explained the danger, summarized the plans to divert the asteroid's
path, and then concluded with an expression of confidence that no
catastrophe would occur. The electronic and print media used
information packets provided to them to disseminate details of the
coming events. February, 2034 --------------News reports, analysis,
editorials, and blogs paid little attention to anything but the
planetoid's approach. Unfortunately, the information, as usual, was
slanted toward the sensational and fueled more worry than hope.
Rumors were accepted as fact. Optimistic news and opinion were
discounted or discredited. Anxiety grew to near panic, buttressed
by memories of the failed efforts to deflect the asteroid in
2029.The religious extremists, a tiny minority but unshakeable in
their beliefs, were roused to action. One blogger, for example,
wrote: ==========================================Can you not see
God's wrath? He is DESTROYING HUMANITY because of its WICKED WAYS
-- homosexuality and adultery in particular -- just as He did in
the time of Noah. Just as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. Only the
righteous will attain salvation to dwell with the Almighty in
heaven for eternity. REPENT! The weak efforts of humankind to
change God's plan will fail just as surely as they failed before.
Sinners be warned; put your trust only in the hubris of man and you
will be DAMNED. Repent and you will be SAVED.
========================================== Meanwhile, NASA and ESA
were scrambling to meet the challenge. Construction of the
international outpost on the Moon was halted to allocate resources
and assign personnel to the new priority. Governments tried
tirelessly to reassure their citizens. Military forces were once
more put on full alert to cope with possible civil unrest, rioting,
and lawlessness. Commercial and financial activity throughout the
world began a slow descent into chaos.
Déj� vous all over again.
November, 2038 --------------Both launches were successful. The
ESA's Ariane VI rocket and NASA's Explorer were positioned two
kilometers apart and 80 kilometers from the huge asteroid. Testing
of hardware, software, and personnel had been extraordinarily
thorough. Communications with the two spacecraft had been perfect.
The first robotic lander with its small rocket engine to nudge the
course of the planetoid was due to be deployed in two days. The
second was ready on the remote chance that the first didn't work
perfectly. Everything was going according to plan. Until...At both
mission control sites, large plasma television screens displayed a
view of the asteroid. Few paid attention to those screens; they had
shown the same image for days. Suddenly, the screens went white. In
the NASA control room in Houston, one technician exclaimed, "Oh my
God!" which drew the attention of everyone else. A rumble of gasps
and expletives arose in the large room. The scene at the ESA
control room was similar.The Mission Director at both sites began
calling for calm and barking orders but stopped when the
brilliantly white screens returned to normal. Normal, that is,
except the asteroid was not visible. Instead, there appeared to be
a cloud of dark dust expanding rapidly outward. When the cloud
dissipated, the star field in the background confirmed that the
video cameras had not moved; it was the same picture except for the
missing asteroid.The Mission Director yelled, "Navigation! Confirm
location and orientation of the crafts!""All normal, sir. Well
within nominal parameters," came the reply. The graphic plots of
the data coming from space had not changed since before the
anomalous blanking of the video screens. "Wait," the controller
exclaimed. "I'm getting a text message on my display.""What the
fuck do you mean?" the Mission Director yelled back."A text
message!" the controller repeated."What's it say?" the Mission
Director asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.The controller
read the message as it scrolled across his display. Every one in
the control room listened with incredulity."This is Commander
Vosila of the cosmic research vessel, Denderi. Do not be alarmed.
We have destroyed the planetoid. You need not know how. You deserve
to know why. Your plan to disrupt the asteroid's path would have
succeeded. But only until the next encounter in 150 of your years.
We cannot allow that. We have been studying your planet for a very
long time. Almost always in secret but there have been a few lapses
in which you detected our observations. We have learned Lolita
Gallery much about your civilization. And, obviously about your
language. You are now very much like we were in our primitive era.
We had wars like you have now. We were poisoning our home planet
like you are now. We suffered from greed and ignorance like you are
now. We are a compassionate race and we want to save you from
annihilation. You have a chance to evolve into a peaceful,
harmonious civilization. It will not be easy for you and it will
take time but we want to give you the chance to do that."A display
of navigational data returned to the controller's screen.The
end
Related post: Preteen
Upskirt, Hussyfan
Lolitas, Lolita
Models, Lolita Porn
Pics, Nude Preteen
Girls, Lolita
Toplists, Preteen
Hussyfan, Young
Lolita, Preteen Girls
Naked, Lolita Art,
Nn Preteenage Models,
Reallolita Cp,
Lolita Hussyfan Sites,
Pedo Preteens, Lolita Angels, Nn Lolita Bbs, Lolita Pthc, Naked Lolita Toplist, Shylolita Toplist, Preteen Nymphet